Community D

Teaching German

European Journal

Bosnia: How Ethnic Division is Crippling Business

Rival ethnic groups in Bosnia refusing to agree on agricultural regulations have left many farmers there unable to sell their products.

For years, Croatia has been Bosnia and Herzegovina's most important trading partner, particularly in the meat and dairy industries. Now Bosnian companies are facing bankruptcy, as rival ethnic groups refuse to co-operate with authorities. The country does not even have a department of agriculture. That's causing problems with the EU, which insists on co-operating solely on the national, rather than regional level.